episode_0060

“At the End of the Season”

“Thank you for the warm welcome. It feels like I’ve returned home after a long time.”

It wasn’t just a usual remark. Unlike yesterday when he was full of exhaustion, Dmitri’s face was now filled with freshness.

In the Duke’s townhouse, Albrice thought there must be many things bothering Dmitri, to the extent that he would speak so kindly.

“Your gracious words leave me unsure how to reciprocate. As a benefactor of our Elli, anytime you wish to visit, the Beauregard family will welcome you.”

However, the seasoned politician Albrice didn’t show any particular reaction to Dmitri’s response. He faced Dmitri with his usual expression and voice.

They exchanged greetings casually.

Dmitri then approached the platinum-haired lady standing shyly next to Oravi. Eleanor, dressed in a white blouse and a sky-blue long skirt under a lace parasol, had her umbrella pressed heavily down to just below her head. Perhaps trying to hide her flushed face, Dmitri could easily see her embarrassment through the shadow on her face.

Dmitri gently took Eleanor’s empty hand and pulled it towards him.

“Ah.”

Beyond her sigh without a subject, Dmitri’s black pupils sparkled as they met Eleanor’s gaze.

“Until we meet again, stay well, Eli.”

And then came those words.

The final term of endearment shocked the Beauregard family members who had come to welcome Dmitri at the entrance.

Eli? Did His Grace just address our young lady with an endearing term?

Amidst the murmurs, Eleanor simply lay her flushed face on the ground without saying a word.

Drawing closer to Eleanor, Dmitri moved so near that they could hear each other breathe, even if they bowed their heads, feeling each other’s gazes.

“Eli, what’s your answer?”

Reluctantly, Eleanor raised her head towards Dmitri. She then replied briefly.

“Oh, I see. I’ll wait… Dmitri.”

Murmurs turned into sighs. Dmitri! Our young lady is treating a man so informally?

In this reaction, the two people standing beside Eleanor looked more astonished than anyone, alternating their gazes between Eleanor and Dmitri.

Standing behind Eleanor, the maid Zephyrine, with her ivory-colored hair, displayed a mix of surprise and pride in her expression.

Beside Eleanor, her guardian Albrice, lost in thought, stared at Dmitri with blue eyes as if looking at an enemy.

Despite the somewhat chilly glances, Dmitri remained composed.

Why is he suddenly acting like this? He said something different last night.

Then, Dmitri gently lifted Albrice’s hand that he held, placing his lips on the back of his hand.

“Well then, goodbye.”

Smiling at the bewildered Eleanor, Dmitri gradually distanced himself from the Beauregard siblings. With a poised demeanor despite the cold looks, he mounted his black horse that he had prepared.

“I’ll visit again soon, Your Grace! There will be much to discuss!”

From behind, Albrice’s voice, now more forceful than usual, echoed. Dmitri grinned at him and spurred his horse, starting his departure.

Dmitri moving farther away.

Eleanor fleeing into the mansion.

Albris alternated his gaze between the two protagonists.

He then threw away the mask that was already halfway removed, transforming into a pitiful clown and called out to Eleanor with a somewhat melancholic voice.

“Hey, Elli. Elli! Would you like to have a chat with me for a moment? Elli!”

“I don’t know. Stop looking for me!”

Despite Oribe’s moistened voice, Eleanor screamed sharply as she swiftly ascended the central staircase beyond the entrance.

Leaving behind Beaurnga’s townhouse, Dimitri smiled wryly at the gradually familiar scenery.

Partially due to jealousy, the way that silver-haired halfwit affectionately called Eleanor “Elli” was quite irritating.

Initially, it was just a slight nuisance.

But from a certain point on—no, from the moment he embraced Elli dearly and ran with her in his arms—it tormented him as if a thorn had lodged in his throat every time Eleanor, through her pink, moist lips, addressed him with such reverence that Dimitri found himself engulfed in an inexplicable sense of defeat.

Now he had to admit it.

Eleanor had taken her place in his heart, that beautiful platinum blonde woman.

Dimitri Verberitz was in love with Eleanor Beaurn.

Therefore, Dimitri had to steel his resolve.

The lands up north were cold, harsh, and barren enough for his mother, let alone the Duchess of Galatea abandoning her honor and children to flee.

For Eleanor, a delicate flower raised in the west, such a land was entirely unsuitable.

If Eleanor remained as she was now, she would wither in the freezing wasteland.

The reason Dimitri’s feelings couldn’t progress was precisely because of this.

Though outsiders might not know, the current northern region was truly chaotic, with no resources available to fix the mess.

However, now he held the card to lead that change.

Although he obtained that card from Eleanor and her family, perhaps it was due to some hidden intention that the Beaurn family allowed Albris, that troublesome fellow, to take over their mithril mine.

But why was Albris causing such a commotion, speaking as if he were selling off his sibling at night?

“So, did Duke Dimitri really spend a night at the Beaurn estate?”

Ernst, a lean man with jet-black hair, looked at the man before him with his typical emotionless voice.

Perhaps an ordinary person would have kept some distance from his cool, emotionless gaze.

The man who was captivated by the gold coins in Ernst’s hand only nodded greedily, his head bobbing with a covetous smile.

“Yes. Moreover, it seems his relationship with the lady has progressed considerably. They address each other without hesitation by endearing terms.”

The slightly hunched man was one of the residents of Beaurnga. Despite his appearance, he was a seasoned servant in Beaurnga, but due to his usual untrustworthy behavior, he was responsible for the most demanding stable work at the mansion.

“Any other information?”

“Well… Hmm. I’m afraid my memory is a bit fuzzy due to my age.”

Without changing his expression, Ernst took out a handful of gold coins from his pocket.

“Oh! By the way, when the lady was departing, there was a lady accompanying her.”

“A lady?”

“Yes. I’m not sure who that lady was, but even from a distance, both the young master and the lady seemed somewhat flustered.”

“What was her impression? Any distinctive features like hair color or anything else?”

Ernst’s words made the man furrow his brow. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head from side to side.

“I’m sorry. I can’t remember.”

Ernst’s guard, who was standing a step behind him, immediately approached the man. Placing his hand on the sword at his waist, he stared intently at the man.

“Heh, I really can’t remember. It’s true, I really can’t recall.”

“Stop, Nasir. He probably had an artifact that caused cognitive interference.”

At Ernst’s words, Nasir, the guard, softened his stance slightly.

Ernst then handed a gold coin to the man, still staring at him with a chillingly emotionless voice.

“If you have any more information, come find me again.”

“T-Thank you. Sir.”

Watching the man hesitantly clutching the coin in his hand as he walked away, Nasir, who stood behind Ernst, voiced his discontent.

“He doesn’t seem trustworthy.”

“You’re right.”

“But why send him off with a handful of coins?”

Ernst reached into the thick pouch of gold coins and handed it to Nasir.

“He didn’t lie. If his information aligns with others’, it might prove useful eventually.”

Nasir tied the pouch of coins to his belt. Ernst, observing Nasir’s still displeased expression, continued without any change in demeanor.

“What’s more important is the Grand Duke. Things are taking an unexpectedly strange turn.”

“Because of Lady Yeongae?”

“It’s a woman’s issue, but I’ve been ignoring it. I never expected things to go this awry.”

Ernst’s voice lowered significantly. Glancing around cautiously, he spoke quietly to his guard, Nasir.

“Is Louis Edmund being taken care of properly?”

“Yes. As you instructed, we’ve stationed people around him. He’s been receiving a good amount of gold coins every week. Lately, he’s been drowning his sorrows in alcohol.”

“We’ll have to make use of him. Prepare a place for him.”

Nasir cautiously inquired at Ernst’s words.

“Should I inform the master?”

“The master must remain unaware of everything we do. He should stay dignified and elegant as always.”